A social stay in the heart of Chicago’s Wicker Park
I’ve been eagerly watching the restoration on my neighborhood’s landmark Northwest Tower for four years. So when two boutique hotel properties announced their opening in the space, I jumped at the opportunity to preview them for Chicagoist.
Read: Inside Wicker Park’s New Boutique Hotel & Social Media-Minded Hostel
The Robey and The Hollander anchor the lively intersection of Milwaukee, North, and Damen avenues with design-minded spaces for hotel guests and locals alike. Located steps from the Blue Line Damen stop, it’s an ideal destination for those looking to immerse themselves in Chicago’s neighborhoods outside of downtown.
The Hollander offers an upscale hostel experience with a social emphasis. The five-story building was constructed in 1905 and served as the Hollander Fireproof Warehouse. The former storage space has been outfitted with 12 private rooms (from $125) and eight shared rooms (from $45).
The guest rooms play up the building’s industrial past with concrete walls, exposed ducts, and minimal steel and wood furnishings. Rooms include bunk beds, en-suite bathrooms, Televisions, and refrigerators are included in private rooms. The property’s thoughtful approach to budget-conscious travel is a considerable upgrade from the hostels I’ve frequented in my travels.
The Hollander is being billed as the first “social stay” in hospitality. Guests are invited to share their Instagram account with others who will be staying at the hostel when they do and then connect during their stay. The Hollander aims to create a community via social media where the digitally-connected travelers can meet and share their adventures during their visit.
The Hollander’s lobby encourages engagement for hostel guests and locals. Guests can socialize at the Metric Coffee bar while waiting for their laundry and bike repair or rental at Banker Supply Co. A communal oak table and wraparound benches provide cozy places to take advantage of the free Wi-Fi.
Adjacent to the Hollander, the Robey provides an elegant hotel stay with thoughtful design. Read more about the Robey here.
The Hollander and the Robey are poised to bring an innovative take on adaptive reuse to Wicker Park and Chicago’s hospitality landscape. As Grupo Habita managing partner Carlos Couturier told me, “The Robey is the past meets the future. The Hollander is the present meets the future.”
Pro-tip
Link your Instagram account while booking to find other guests with similar interests and coordinate your stay.
Special Touches
Lockers with charging outlets
Personal lamps and USB ports
Beesntial natural skin care products.
The Hollander
2022 W. North Ave.
Chicago, IL 60647
Jessica Mlinaric founded Urban Explorer in 2010 to inspire curious travelers by highlighting history, culture, and hidden gems in Chicago and beyond. She is the author of ‘Secret Chicago’ and ‘Chicago Scavenger.’ Jessica has visited 20+ countries and 30+ U.S. states. She has more than 16 years of experience as a marketing strategist and works as a freelance writer and photographer.
